S - Matthew
4:2-4 (NIV): "After fasting forty days and forty
nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of
God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man
shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of
God.’ ”"
O - The
very first temptation to confront Jesus involved how life "works" on
earth. Humans need to eat and Jesus
hadn't eaten for a seriously long time.
Not only does he need to eat but he can actually turn the stone to
bread. So, why would this be "wrong"? What's wrong with doing
everything in your power to meet obvious and lawful needs; needs created by
God's design? Later, he would turn
water into wine (John 2) without it being a "violation" so why is
this any different? Jesus comes to live out loud the truth that not only is the
Kingdom of God near, it is interested and involved in daily life and daily
bread on earth. The world (secular and
religious) does not accept this view.
Jesus will warn his followers to be on guard against only five realities
and two of them are the yeast of the Pharisees (the religious) and all kinds of
greed. He calls all to follow and all to
accept a transformation in thinking (repent).
He says to all, "So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we
eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run
after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But
seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be
given to you as well." (Matthew 6:31-33 NIV) Apparently, there is a huge
difference between lawful things "given" and us "taking"
them. Jesus won't take them, even though
they are his for the taking. It's the
difference between the stone to bread and the water to wine. He knows and will live out this essential
truth: We can't simultaneously follow and run after the lawful things of earth.
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other,
or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both
God and money.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were
sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in
the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is
detestable in God’s sight." (Luke 16:13-15 NIV)
A -
Earth (its culture and its citizens) is always afraid of something and the
Kingdom is never afraid of anything or anyone.
Religious earth admits there's a God and even an afterlife but on this
side you're basically on your own. Jesus comes to
earth to say WRONG! He said and lived this right to his crucifixion and
his resurrection. The earth says worry
and even affirms worry as a sign of love or good stewardship. Jesus say do not worry. The devil wants me to run after the lawful if
I won't embrace the unlawful because either of those keep me from
following. Today, I will believe Jesus
about earth and not just about heaven (John 3:12). I won't run after I'll follow. I won't take,
I'll confidently stay near him as all the designed and needed earthly realities
will be given as well.
P - Lord
in Heaven above and on earth below,
Thank you for calling us to
yourself and to the confidence of your involvement with daily bread. I admit that all my human training tells me
to take when you tell me it will be added.
I want the yeast of your kingdom to come into me and completely displace
the yeast of the Pharisees. I admit I can't
serve two … earth (bread, money) wants me to serve it and it can never connect
me to you or your kingdom but it can and will disconnect me. Heaven wants me to serve you and you will
connect me to yourself, the kingdom AND add all the rest. I accept the transformation (repentance) in
my thinking because the kingdom is actually near. I will follow you and refuse to run after
that which is already known by heaven as needed and promised to be provided to
me. Thank you for giving us this day our
daily bread! I love you back!
Living in Jesus' Name,
Steve
